All-Australian Lachie Whitfield, veteran Brett Deledio and youngster Harry Perryman will line up against the Blues at GIANTS Stadium as the team for Sunday’s clash is finalised.
Whitfield has been cleared to return after a fortnight out with a corked quad and hip issue.
“He’s trained really well, he trained on Thursday and earlier in the week,” coach Leon Cameron said.
Everything's Bigger Up Close: Get your tickets for the GIANTS’ clash with the Blues at GIANTS Stadium on Sunday.
“He’s been missing for the two weeks we know, from his hip flexor, but he’s ready to roll and we welcome him back into the team.”
Deledio returns for his first game since round two after battling a calf injury with the veteran cleared to play last week and selected for this week’s clash with the Blues.
“Deledio is ready to roll,” Cameron said.
“We expect him to come into the team and play his role either around the footy or up forward.”
Third year midfielder Perryman also returns to the side for his first match since round one after suffered a collapsed lung in a brutal collision.
“Perryman’s been training for three or four weeks and played a game (in the NEAFL),” Cameron said.
“He was unlucky not to come in last week and we didn’t have a NEAFL game but he’s been in really good form and got a lot of the footy so we expect him to step up to the plate.”
As revealed in Thursday night’s squad selection, vice-captain Stephen Coniglio will miss this week’s clash, succumbing to the finger injury he sustained in round six.
Zac Langdon is out with foot soreness while Matt Buntine and Dawson Simpson have been omitted.
The GIANTS return to GIANTS Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park for the first time since the Sydney Royal Easter Show to take on the Blues at 4:40pm on Sunday.
GIANTS v Carlton
Sunday, May 19 at 4:40pm
GIANTS Stadium
FB: Zac Williams, Nick Haynes, Heath Shaw
HB: Sam Taylor, Phil Davis, Sam Reid
C: Jeremy Finlayson, Tim Taranto, Adam Tomlinson
HF: Matt de Boer, Jeremy Cameron, Daniel Lloyd
FF: Brent Daniels, Harry Himmelberg, Toby Greene
RR: Shane Mumford, Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly
Interchange: Lachie Whitfield, Brett Deledio, Adam Kennedy, Harry Perryman
In: Shane Mumford, Lachie Whitfield, Brett Deledio, Harry Perryman
Out: Zac Langdon (foot), Stephen Coniglio (finger), Matt Buntine
(omitted), Dawson Simpson (omitted)
Emergencies: Dawson Simpson, Isaac Cumming, Jackson Hately, Lachlan Keeffe
